lip magazine: for girls who think feel create speak out live

For some time now, the use of the word “blog” has bothered me a little. We all know that a blog, short for “weblog”, is in most cases an online diary of sorts. But the use of the word blog as a verb somehow doesn’t sit right with me.

For example: “I want to blog about [insert topic here]. You wouldn’t say “I want to diary about [insert topic here]“. You would write in your diary about said topic.

Or

“I wrote a blog about [insert topic here].” Did you dedicate the whole blog to that topic, or just one entry?

I’m well aware that there are many other words in the English language that can be both nouns and verbs, but for some reason this one just seems weird. Perhaps it’s just because it’s still a relatively new word.

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I should be doing more mailouts/consignment stuff, but I just hate this part so much, I’ve got to force myself to keep going. Thursday, Thursday I’m off work, so I can spend all day doing boring crap distribution shit.

But that’s not what I want to blog about. I’ve finished watching the two seasons of The Office and the Christmas specials. Perfection, that show is. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything so perfect. The writing is amazing, the acting, by everyone in the cast, even the really minor characters, is perfect. It’s cringe-inducing powers are amazing - sheer talent. And the Tim and Dawn story is great. When I mention The Office, people immediately go, “yeah, that’s exactly like what working in an office is like”. Obviously I work in the wrong offices…. I can’t actually say that office resembles any office I’ve ever worked in, but I guess if I worked in an office run by David Brent, it’d be exactly like that. Course I wouldn’t have stayed there more than a day…

Any other Office fans out there?

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Well, it happened.

I turned 30.

I bought myself a dress that makes me look like a fairy queen.

I am now, officially, no longer a young person…

Rachel

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Have a look at the these photos from the Canberra Times.

Notice how the Playboy Bunnies from yesterday all look like different people. And then look at those today. They all look the same.

It’s nice to know I’m not paranoid or off the planet when I think that our conception of beauty is getting narrower and narrower…

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Louise James
Strategic Marketing Development Manager
The Cancer Council Australia

Dear Ms James,

I am a concerned woman who has an idea on how to make young women aware of issues relating to skin cancer. Now that I am in my thirties, I’ve suddenly recognised how cosmetic companies use the fear of ageing to promote their products. In particular, I am now the target of skin care that promises to “stop the seven signs of ageing” because “I’m worth it.”

I have always been complimented on my skin; people frequently tell me how young I look. I have a simple beauty secret - I wear sunblock everyday. I also wear a hat when I’m in the sun and have never taken part in tanning.

I’m relating this information to you because I believe the Cancer Council could help with promoting a realistic approach to skin care, one that doesn’t use fear or costs a fortune. I would love to watch a television commercial that begins as a usual anti-ageing advert and ends with the real-life actor stating, “sunblock - the simple solution”.

I hope the Cancer Council will consider this idea as part of your marketing program. As a woman who advocates for positive representations of women, I would be happy to help in any possible way.

Sincerely,

Erin Dolan
www.donotbequiet.com

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My Mom had asked me what I wanted for my 30th birthday (which is on Dec 18!!) and I couldn’t think of anything. Really, I have enough shit and the last thing I really wanted - Ved Mehta’s memoir of working with famous New Yorker editor William Shawn - she bought for me a few months ago. But last night (after already receiving a big box in the mail that I presume is my birthday gift) I wrote to her that if she hadn’t already bought me a Christmas gift, what I really want is a subscription to the New Yorker.

I’ve kinda wanted this since I’ve been in Australia. Mom ocassionally sends me photocopied articles or the occasional full issue when she is done reading her copy. One reason I’ve resisted a subscription is because the bloody thing comes out weekly. I have a whole box of various magazines and newsletters that I don’t get through because I read novels instead, so the last thing I figure I need is a full-on magazine to come every week.

But the past few weeks I’ve been reading some of my magazines and realising nothing I read stays with me. The Big Issue, The Monthly, Australian Author, they’re alright, but not offering me articles that I think about for days or can use for interesting conversational fodder (except for one in the Monthly about Bill Gates funding malaria vaccination research). So, I think I should stop reading so many magazines and just focus on the one that’s always been the best for me: The New Yorker.

I want to support Australian magazines rather than importing from America, but so far I haven’t found anything here with the intellectual rigour of the New Yorker. I miss it and I want it and it actually only comes out to $2.30 per issue for an overseas subsription!!!! I may be getting it two months late, though….

If Mom’s already bought my Christmas gifts, I’ll just have to shell out the $120 (American) myself!

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Since it seems to be ‘angry feminist week’ on the lip mag blog, I thought I would share this little gem. I don’t believe I am the kind to be easily ‘outraged,’ but when I stumbled across this website, I felt physically ill.

The website claims to be mens’ answer to The Rules “and other guy jerkaround guides that have been the rage with chicks of the 90s.” It contains ‘advice’ for guys, on how to score and avoid getting “walked all over” by chicks or becoming their ‘girlfriend’ (i.e being friends with a girl without getting sex in return). It gives tips such as;

[QUOTE] ‘Don’t ask to touch her/fuck her, just do, or at most just tell her you want her.. or “lets feel each other closer more directly”..etc.- watch her reaction..some resistance is okay, but if she has an angry look on her face, and is really putting up a fuss, then back up one or two steps on this list, and then resume going down the list after a couple minutes. Repeat as necessary. If she really doesn’t like it, she will get away from you (and if that happens, THROW HER OUT!, you got a FREAK!). Also, absolutely ignore anything she says. She will probably say she doesnt want to fuck you now, and other blah blah. Ignore it absolutely. Watch her body language only. It won’t lie, but her words probably will. In spite of what all the femenazi’s say, girls really like to be “taken”, and want to feel they “didn’t have a choice”. [End quote]

I can’t believe that there are people who actually think this way. According to a study by The University of Western Australia’s Crime Unit, 15% of Australian males aged between 12 - 20, agreed with the statement: “It’s okay for a guy to put pressure on a girl to have sex but not to physically force her.”

Sadly, these beliefs do still exist, and honestly it makes me sick.

It is challenging for me that almost every time I open my mouth and utter the word ‘feminist,’ people accuse me of hating men. I don’t hate men. And I know that generally most guys do not think this way. But it’s these kinds of attitudes - held by men and women alike, that makes feminism so vital today. And I think that this kind of feminist anger is completely justified.

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I just had an idea. Maybe instead of fighting against the sexualisation and objectification of women, we should go with it and beat men at their own game. We can all wear shirt skirts and cleavage revealing tops, get appointed to top jobs and while we distract every high-powered male around us, we’ll change the world. So while powerful men get so distracted looking at our boobs and trying to figure out how to get into our pants, we will actually get all the work done - properly!!!

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Were blogs created as tools to rant out anger? It seems to be what I’ve been using this one for lately.

I’ve never been an angry person, but my god, it’s like the last few months everything makes my blood boil. Erin, my dear, I think I have just become an angry feminist.

So, Allan got free tickets to go see the new Harry Potter movie. I loved the first couple movies. After the first two books, I hadn’t felt the need to read anymore, so I didn’t go in knowing the story. But I came out of the theatre wanting to scream. To fly to England and give J K Rowling a big shake and ask her if she … see all I want to do is write/say fuck. I’m angry! How she can fucking be so misogynistic. She’s a female!!!! She’s got a generation of children eating out of the palm of her hand and all she can give them is the same old gender bullshit that confronts us all the time. What a waste.

This is the last H P movie for me.

And he’s such a loser. Okay, when he was 12 I could deal with the little wimpering, reluctant hero thing, but now he’s been through some adventures can’t he just show some fucking spine? It’s irritating.

But, obviously that’s not really what’s making me mad. So Hermione has to get all prettied up and turn everyone’s head. She has to fall for the big, silent, strong brute and Harry gets all stupid in front of a pretty girl. Hermione has to be jealous that no one pays attention to her (sexually). And she doesn’t do anything in this movie, no brains, all jealousy. Harry’s helped by a bunch of father-figures, no gals in sight. Then there’s the girls in blue who look like a bunch of Swedish blonde stewardesses, followed by the young warriors with their weapons and aggro (these are the students of competing schools). And in the big competition, there’s one girl (representing the stewardesses) and three boys. And guess who comes in last each round of the competion. Of course, the girl. Oh, and lets not forget the stained glass mermaid in the spa room who twirls her hair and pouts. And the giggly girl ghost who in the first movie (if I remember correctly) threw awesome tantrums but now just wants to see Harry’s penis.

I much preferred when Rowling stuck to creating a great magical world that transferred well to screen. She’s not enough of a writer to tackle teen issues. And she’s a lousy role model for girls.

I’m never gonna get to sleep…

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from issue seven: career profiles

lip issue 7 brings you a huge feature on careers, including a quiz, interviews, book reviews, a special on women in uniform, fiction and more. We had so many ideas for our career feature that we couldn’t fit it all in the magazine! So we decided to put up even more information and opinions right here.

We thought you might be curious about what exactly goes into some of the jobs mentioned in our career quiz and what kind of environments you’ll be expected to work in. We’ve selected a bunch of positions and highlighted their important duties, work environments, good and bad points and what qualifications and skills are required.

(more…)

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